Chain-end coupling.



' W. l. GAGNON.

CHAIN END COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2s, 1917.

inventor:

4', v, V 7. v 9

Fatemed Mar. 12, 1%

WILLIAM J. GAGNON, 0F BBIDGEPOBiT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEBRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF ACTUBING COMPANY, OFCONNECTICUT.

BEAD CHAIN CHAIN-END COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed November 28, 1917. Serial No. 204,416.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GAoNoN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairficld andState of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Chain-End Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to chain end couplings and particularly to acoupling for uniting the ends of bead chain lengths, the object of myinvention being to provide a simple and inexpensive coupling device bywhich the chain ends may be united with a certain freedom of play.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a coupling in which my invention is embodiedin one form;

Fig. 2 is a section therethrough on the lines 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof'partially in section.

The present coupling is designed to afford a permanent connectionbetween chain ends while at the same time permitting the latter toswivel in the coupling to prevent kinking of the chain during use. Theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a pair of dished plates 10and 11 spaced apart by an axial rivet 12, shouldered at each end toafford seats for the disks and permanently uniting the latter byspinning down the reduced ends of the rivet into heads 13 and 14 againstthe outer faces of the disks. The margins of the disks are spaced apartforming a slot 15. Before the disks-are permanently secured together,the end balls 16 of the chain lengths to be united, are introducedbetween adjacent faces of the disks with their connecting links 17passing through the slot 15. When the chain ends are thus positioned thetwo disks are united by spinning down the rivet heads 13 and 14, thusconfining the end balls 16 within the chamber between the opposed facesof the disks, while the links 17 pass through the slot 15. The latterforms a freeway through which the links travel as the balls travelaround in the chamber formed between the disks. The spacing of the disks10 and 11 is of course to cover a flat disk predetermined with relationto the diameter of the balls so as to prevent the latter from binding,as is also the width of the slot 15 with relation to the links 17 toinsure the free travel of the latter therethrough.

While the end balls 16 support the disks at various points, it may beadvisable to insert free bearing balls 18 within the chamber of thecoupling between the balls 16. They form reinforcing members whichprevent deformation of the disks in case the coupling should be'accidently stepped on or otherwise subjected to crushing pressure.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the couplingcomprises a pair of plates 19 and 20 with oppositely faced marginalflanges 21 and 22 which abut in the assembled coupling and are heldtogether by a series of shouldered rivets 23 of the same type as thatshown at 12 in Fig. 1. The disks are perforated in register at 24 and 25by holes of less diameter than that of the end balls 16 so that thelatter are engaged toward their mid-portion by the margins of the holes24, 25, and held against escape while still permitting a limited amountof swiveling freedom. The marginal flanges 21 and 22 of the disks arecut away in register to form slots 26 through which project the links 17connecting the chain to the end ball of the section. These slots 26 havean arcuate extent sufiicient to permit a limited amount of angularmovement of the chain section around the coupling. Inasmuch abut and themid-portion of the coupling disks are supported the shouldered rivets23, there is no need for additional support.

Various modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the artwhich do not deart from what I claim as my invention.

In the following claims I use the expression cupped disk in a sensebroad enough with marginal flange of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

I claim v 1. An end coupling for chains of the type having ballsinterconnected by links, said coupling comprising a pair of opposed cupdisks, means for spacing apart the midportions of said disks toaccommodate the end balls of chain sections and passage means betweensaid disks through which by the end balls 16 and the link connectin saidend balls to the exterior portions 0' the chain sections may freely pass2. An end coupling for chains of the type thawingv bails interconnectedby links, sald coupling comprising a air of disks, shouL dered rivetspermanent y uniting saiddisks together but spacing the same apart toaccommodate the end balls of chain sections 10 and marginal passagemeans between said megs coupling comprising a air of cupped disks meanspermanently uniting said diskswitli tween the op osed margins of saiddisk, together with 'ree hearingballs arranged between said disks andoccupying the interspaces between said end balls of the chain sectionsIn testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

w nnmn J. mission.

their margins spaced apart the end balls of chain sections being free yconfined between said disks with connecting links freely passing throughthe slot afforded beso

